This 1899 Parabellum sold for a huge amount of money today...

[Ron Wood]

Fair enough Herb. I am glad you are content with excuses like the "thickness of the so called wings on the front face of the rear toggle varied in thickness", but I would hope that you realize that this isn't a very convincing line of argument. Your statement about "the later alleged "pre-production" models" is also a bit of mystery...who is alleging what? I know that Mike and I do not see eye-to-eye on the assessment of some of these pieces (remember old #10!) but I can live with that. It doesn't shake my opinions in the least! I was initially of the opinion that #20 was the first genuine pre-production piece to show up on the US auction market, but an unemotional examination of the piece convinced me otherwise. and I documented my concerns in considerable detail. As I stated once before, as much as I respect Mike's opinions, I am more than willing to stand toe-to-toe with him on these early pieces.